Means for actuating window-blinds.



No. 699,850. Patented May I3, 1902..

n; w. ROBERTS.

MEANS FOR ACTUATING WINDOW BLINDS.

rAppIication filed Dec. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.,.-

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UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL V. ROBERTS, OF \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR ACT UATI N G WlNDOW- BLlNDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,850, dated May 13,1902. Application filed December 21,1901. Serial No. 86,852. (No model.)

mounted on an overhead track, upon which said blind may slide and swingoutwardly, with actuating means for opening and closing said blinds fromthe interior of the house.

The object of my invention is to provide strong, simple, and efficientmeans for actuating and controlling window-blinds of the class referredto and not disengage said actuating mechanism whenever it is desired toswing blind outward.

To these ends my invention consists of the parts and combination ofparts, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out inthe claims at the end of this specification.

\Vindow-blinds which are constructed according to my invention aremovably mounted on an overhead track and are actuated by means of asimple mechanism consisting of arms and jointed connections, with aspring-' locking arrangement at the lower end of each of said blinds,means being provided for disengaging the said locking arrangementwhenever it is desired to swing the blinds outwardly to form an awningand to hold samelin its relative position when not disengaged.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a pair ofblinds constructed according to my invention, the location of thewindow-opening being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an end View ofFig. 1 looking in direction of arrow A. Fig. 3 is an end View showingthe blind in position toform an awning.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A and B designate a pair ofwindow-blinds having grooved rollers 1, which may move upon and turnabout an overhead track 2. Near its center and in the window-frame eachof the blinds A and B is provided with an actu ating-shaft 3. Theseshafts being oonstructed of metal or any othersubstantial substance aremade to turn in said window-frame. I

provide an actuating upward-extending arm D, (or, preferably, shaft 3 isbent to form said arm D,) which is secured to or fastened in a suitablemanner to the actuating-shaft 3. The shaft 3 extends through to theinside of the house and is journaled in the window-framing in anysuitable manner and is provided at its inner end with a knob 5.

Each arm D is provided with a doubleforked arm or swivel 6, one end ofwhich will extend both sides of the arm D. The other end extends bothsides of connector 7, fastened to arm D by pins or studs 8 and toconnector 7 by stud 8.

Connector 7 is fast to a second fork-arm 9, which extends both sides ofsaid connector 7, and is fast by stud 10 to said fork-arm, which ispivoted to blind and allows connectors and blinds to move to position ofblind A at the left of Fig. 1 and will insure theblind retaining itsposition as shown by position of blind 13. Small coil-springs 11 aresecured in stand 12, which are secured or held against blinds at innerends. Said springs are fastened at one end of locking-wire E, which isjournaled in stands 12 and 14C and locked to position by stand 15, thusholding blinds in their normal and horizontal position, stands 12 14being se cured to each blind by screws or any other suitable manner.

It is obvious that when arms D are made to turn or move in eitherdirection their natu= ral tendency is to force the blind in same direction with said arms D or away from or toward shaft 3, thus bringingthe rollers 1,which bear on overhead track, to move on said track, thusopening or closing said blinds.

When one of the blinds is in its closed position or opposite thewindow-opening, the outer end of arm E may be moved upwardly against thetension of the coiled spring 11 by means of the wire E, acting as ahandle, thus disengaging the part E of the wire from the stand 15,leaving the blind freeto be swung outwardly to form an awning orotherwise.

16 designates a suitable brace-rod, which may be pivoted towindow-casing and may engage a suitable screw-eye 17 to hold the blindin its outward position, as described.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-- 1. In a mechanism for actuating windowblinds movablymounted on an overhead track, upon which said blind may slide or beswung outwardly and form an awning the combination of said track, blind,actuating mechanism extending to the interior of the house connectedwith said blind to open and close said blind and allow blind to swingouting and closing said blind, of a blind having rollers adapted to turnabout on an overhead track, an overhead track adapted to allow the blindto be'swung outwardly to form an awning and on which it may slide toopen or close the blind, and two-part locking device one part secured tothe house,the other part secured to the said blind for normally holdingblind in vertical position when not swung outwardly, capable ofdisengagement from part secured on house to allow the blindto be swungoutwardly, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

DANIEL W. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR S. COWAN, FRANK H. SELLARS.

